st. paul, minn. | mitchell externships & clinics

St. Paul, Minn. | www.wmitchell.edu

Practical Wisdom

Mitchell Externships & Clinics

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Externships• For credit learning opportunities outside the

classroom in placements such as the public defender’s office, government agencies, law firms, corporations & nonprofits.

• Students cannot receive pay.• Students need 22 credits completed to register

for externships.• Prerequisites or co-requisites, depends on each

externship. See individual course requirements.

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Clinics - ExternshipsDifference between externships & clinics:• Generally, in clinics, students work directly with Mitchell’s clinical

faculty or adjunct faculty on cases that the Mitchell clinics decide to take. Think of Mitchell’s clinical faculty and clinical students functioning as a small law firm. Example: Child Protection Clinic.

http://web.wmitchell.edu/legal-practice-center/client-representation-clinics/

• In externships, students are placed outside the law school to work with attorneys/judges on projects/cases specific to that office or organization.

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ExternshipsGenerally fall under two main categories at Mitchell:

– Course based: In-class room component, plus field placement.

– Independent externships: No class room component, but students have faculty supervision and one-on-one meetings; orsimilar placements may be grouped together under one faculty member to meet as a group vs. having individual meetings.

– See http://web.wmitchell.edu/legal-practice-center/externships/

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Federal Judicial Externship• About 3 weeks before next semester registration -

application deadline.• Watch for posting on the Docket. • The application consists of: (1) resume, (2) transcript,

and (3) short essay explaining why you want to do it.• Preference given to students in the top 15% of the

class, and for the spring program, preference given to 2Ls over 3Ls.

• After student is selected, student registers for the credits & class by contacting the course instructor.

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Law & Business Externship• Application process –Prof. Ainsworth• First step: attend information session on

Prerequisites: At least 2 business courses.

• Preference given to upper-class students.

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Spring 2014 Law & Bus PlacementsSoffer Charbonnet Merrill Corp

The Brewer Group Black Hills IP

Best Buy Regis Corp

Henson & Efron Aon Benfield

Code 42 Valspar

Virtus Law

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Government Agency Externship• First: Meet with Externship Director to

discuss your interest.• Second: Apply to the government agency

through Symplicity- applications go directly to the agency.

• Third: Interview, selected, accepted.• Fourth: Contact Externship Director to

register for the course.

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Examples of Gov’t Agencies• Dept. of Transportation• Dept. of Public Safety• MN Pollution Control Agency• Dept. of Human Services• Public Utilities Commission• Dept. of Human Rights• Dept. of Agriculture• Dept. of Labor and Industry• Dept. of Veterans Affairs (federal)• Dept. of Homeland Security• Dept. of Housing & Urban Dev’t-Fair Housing

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Real Estate & Local Gov’t• First: Meet with Externship Director to

discuss your interest.• Second: Apply to the government agency

through Symplicity- applications go directly to Hennepin County.

• Third: Interview, selected & accepted.• Fourth: Contact Externship Director to

register for the course.

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Hennepin County Administration Placements

• Title Examiner’s Office• Taxpayer Services• Contracts & Procurement

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Credits• Register when you sign up for your other classes.• Courses and independent externship credits are

based on number of hours in your field placement.

• 50 hours = 1 credit• 100 hours = 2 credits• 145 hours = 3 credits• 190 hours = 4 credits

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ExternshipsNot finding the externship experience you are looking for under Mitchell’s course offerings?

See Independent Externships• Symplicity postings (If pre-approved, will have my contact

information on it. Search under job title “legal extern.”)• Your own contacts – Mitchell mentors

http://web.wmitchell.edu/legal-practice-center/externships/independent-externships/

https://law-wmitchell-csm.symplicity.com/manager/index.php?s=jobs&_ksl=1

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Examples of PlacementsIndependent Externships

• City of St. Paul Attorney’s Office• Neighborhood Justice Center • (Note, MJF opportunities may be set up as

independent externships)• Corporations• Small law firms• North Carolina Legal Aid

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How Many Externships Can I Take?During your law school career at Mitchell, you may have: • A total of 4 credits from independent externships.

Exception Process in place for more than 4.• A total of 4 credits from independent judicial

externships.• Course based externships = no limit/22 credits

for non-classroom.

(register for one course each semester until the first round of registration is completed)

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Why should I take Externships?• Part of your legal education – gain hands on

experience under attorney supervision & faculty guidance.

• Apply what you learn in the classroom to solve problems for individuals, agencies, corporations and nonprofits.

• Create enthusiasm & passion for the practice of law.• Career exploration- test run, including alternative legal

careers.• Build your portfolio of legal skills.• Employers want: Practical experience.

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Plan & Strategize Your Legal Experience • Have variety of practical experiences by the time

you graduate:– Clinics & externships– Volunteer (MJF)– Paid clerkships

• “Legal Experience” section of your resume should be robust.

• Prove you are interested in a specific practice area.• Have some variety to give you options to different

employment opportunities.

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First Year Second Year Third Year

Fall: MJF MJF Transition phase: What do I want my resume to look like when I graduate? Which areas do I need experience in?

Externship/Clinic- following up on previous experience to gain more experience

Spring: MJF Externship – still exploring interests

Spring: Finalizing phaseExternship/Clinic: Need to prove I have interest in area and experience.

Exploration phase:Summer: MJF, paid position, volunteer, externship, take PR if possible

Externship/clinic or paid position- still exploring interests

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ContactMelissa Wright, Externship Director

Melissa.Wright@wmitchell.edu

290-6369

Office 159 (1st Floor, past Hachey Commons, follow the long hallway to the

very end).

Power Point will be posted on Mitchell’s Independent Externship Website.

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13 “In House” Clinic Offerings:

• Business Law Clinic• Child Protection Clinic• Civil Advocacy Clinic• Community Development Clinic• Criminal Appeals Clinic • Immigration Law Clinic• Indian Law Clinic• Intellectual Property Clinic

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Clinic offerings (continued)• Law and Psychiatry Clinic• Legal Assistance to Minnesota

Prisoners (LAMP) Clinic• The Reentry Clinic• Legal Planning Clinic for Tax-Exempt

Organizations and Low Income Clients • Misdemeanor (Prosecution) Clinic

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ContactMelissa Wright, Externship Director

Melissa.Wright@wmitchell.edu

290-6369

Office 159 (1st Floor, past Hachey Commons, follow the long hallway to the very end).

Profs. Ann Juergens, Peter Knapp, Co-Director Clinics

Ann.Juergens@wmitchell.edu

Room 259

Power Point will be posted on Mitchell’s Independent Externship Website.